Consular Legalisation of Documents to China
Documents issued in foreign countries and to be used in Chinese mainland shall first be notarized and legalised by the competent authorities in that country, and then be legalised by Chinese Embassies or Consulates in that country. Specific requirements and information for document legalisation, please refer to the website of the Embassy or Consulate of China.
For documents issued by member countries of the Apostille Convention*, after getting Apostilles from the competent authorities, they can be used in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR of China directly.
*:Refer to the Convention of Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents
Legalisation of Documents in China
1. Introduction to Legalisation of Documents in China
In line with international practice and Chinese regulation, documents issued by Chinese agencies to be used in foreign countries, in general, shall first be legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China(hereafter referred to as "the Department") or authorized Foreign Affairs Offices of local governments(FAO) ,and then be legalised by the embassies or consulates of the countries in which the documents are to be used. The Department and its authorized FAOs are the competent authorities handling legalisation affairs in China.
After finishing its legalisation,The Department and FAOs could help the applicants to transfer the documents to embassies or consulates to apply for their legalisation.
Generally, documents required for legalisation are as follows: birth, death, marriage, no criminal record, kinship, academic qualification, professional qualification, declaration, entrustment paper, power of attorney, contract, articles of association, certification of inspection and quarantine of animals or plants, certificate of origin,invoice, and other notarial certificates, certifications or notes for civil or business purposes etc.. These documents are issued by Chinese notary public offices, entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureaus, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade(CCPIT).
2. Instructions for Applying Documents Legalisation to the Department of Consular Affairs
(1) When applying for legalisation of documents for business purposes, the original notarial certificate(or CCPIT certificates or commercial bills),one original authorization letter issued by the enterprise concerned, one copy of valid passport of the authorized person, and other materials required by the concerned embassy must be submitted. The enterprise shall authorize its own personnel to file the application for legalisation.
(2) For documents needed to be leglised by the Department and the foreign embassies in Beijing,some FAOs or other authorized agencies can help applicants transfer the above said material to the Department* .
For documents needed to be legalised in foreign consulates in cities other than Beijing,provincial and some municipal FAOs in the jurisdiction region of the consulates are authorized by the Department to legalised the documents*.
Name List
1. Local foreign affairs offices for Consular Legalization authorized by MFA (Category One)
Name of Foreign Affairs Office |
Telephone |
Address |
Zip code |
Anhui Foreign Affairs Office |
0551-62999839 |
Hall 6, 3rd floor of Building C, Government Affairs Service Center of Anhui Provincial People's Government, No, 509 Ma An Shan Street, Hefei. |
230022 |
Inner Mongolia Foreign Affairs Office |
0471-6946380 /6946595 |
Room 402 of Building 1, No. 63 Xin Hua Da Jie, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia. |
010098 |
Liaoning Foreign Affairs Office |
024-23271077 |
No. 35 Nan Shi San Wei Street, He Ping District, Shenyang City. |
110013 |
Jilin Foreign Affairs Office |
0431-82752831 |
Legalization Counter of Foreign Affairs , 1st Floor of Provincial Government Affairs Service Hall( No 9999 Ren Min Da Jie, Changchun City.) |
130022 |
Heilongjiang Foreign Affairs Office |
0451-5363537 |
No. 298 Guo Ge Li Da Jie, Nan Gang District, Harbin City. |
150001 |
Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office |
021-62470833 |
2nd Floor, Office Building of Shanghai Equatorial Hotel, No 228 Hua Shan Street, Jing An District, Shanghai. |
200040 |
Jiangsu Foreign Affairs Office |
025-83670835 |
No. 15 Xi Kang Street, Nanjing City. |
210024 |
Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office |
0571-87054924 |
No. 1 Shi Han Street, Hangzhou City. |
310007 |
Fujian Foreign Affairs Office |
0591-87815074 |
No. 97 Hua Lin Street, Fuzhou City. |
350003 |
Jiangxi Foreign Affairs Office |
0791-86281957 |
No. 157 Su Pu Street, Nanchang City. |
330006 |
Henan Foreign Affairs Office |
0371-65688864 |
No. 15 Jin Shui Street,Zhengzhou City. |
450003 |
Hubei Foreign Affairs Office |
027-87301852 |
No. 3 Ba Yi Street, Wu Chang District, Wuhan City. |
430071 |
Hunan Foreign Affairs Office |
0731-82219825 |
3rd Floor of Xiang Hui Building, No. 12 Shao Shan Bei Lu, Changsha City. |
410011 |
Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office |
020-81217589 |
No. 2 Chi Gang You Lin Yi Lu, Hai Zhu District, Guangzhou City. |
510130 |
Guangxi Foreign Affairs Office |
0771-5595561 |
Foreign Affairs Office,Counter 33,2nd floor,Government Service Center,No.6 Yi Bin Lu,Qing Xiu District,Nanning City |
530023 |
Hainan Foreign Affairs Office |
0898-65316350 |
Room 14 and 15, 2th Floor of Hainan Provincial Government Building, No. 9 Guoxing Road, Haikou City. |
570203 |
Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office |
023-63850843 |
No. 57 Hong Hu Dong Lu, Yu Bei District, Chongqing City. |
400015 |
Sichuan Foreign Affairs Office |
028-84392778 |
No. 100 Dong San Duan of Yi Huan Lu, Chengdu City. |
610021 |
Guizhou Foreign Affairs Office |
0851-86611599 |
No.172 Guan Shan Xi Lu,Guan Shan Hu District, Guiyang City, Guizhou. |
550004 |
Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office |
0871-64098094 |
No. 230 Da Guan Street,Kunming City. |
650032 |
Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Office |
029-88149211 029-88149215 |
No.282 Jiefang Road,Xincheng District, Xi'an City. |
710000 |
Shandong Foreign Affairs Office |
0531-86137818 |
2nd Floor of Shandong Provincial Foreign Affairs Service Hall, Building 1 of Hong Shang Fang, Sheng Fu Dong Jie, Jinan City. |
250011 |
Harbin Foreign Affairs Office |
0451-87656261 |
Ying Bin Building 1 of You Yi Gong, No. 263 You Yi Street, Dao Li District, Harbin City. |
150018 |
Jinan Foreign Affairs Office |
0531-86931248 |
No. 26 Bao Tu Quan Bei Lu, Jinan City. |
250001 |
Qingdao Foreign Affairs Office |
0532-85916245 |
Foreign Affairs Counter, 1st Floor of Administrative Approval Hall, No. 17 Hong Kong Zhong Lu, Shi Nan District, Qingdao City. |
266071 |
0532-83885317 |
5th Floor, No. 16 Dong Hai Xi Lu,Shinan District, Qingdao City. | ||
Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office |
0574-87187512 |
Room C1058/C1059, Building 7, No. 1901 Ning Chuan Lu, Jiang Dong District, Ningbo City. |
315066 |
Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Bureau |
0756-2125108 |
Service Counter of Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Bureau, No.27, Zhong Xin Jie(kangling Lu),Xiang Zhou District, Zhuhai City. |
519010 |
Yantai Foreign Affairs Office |
0535-6601183 |
No.9 Xin Yuan Lu,Laishan District,Yantai City. |
264003 |
Weihai Foreign Affairs Office |
0631-5188696 |
Room 317, Building 8, Weihai Municipal Government Building, (No. 45 Shi Chang Da Dao), Weihai. |
264200 |
Changchun Foreign Affairs Office |
0431-88776726 |
No. 2626 Ren Min Da Jie, Changchun City. |
130056 |
Nantong Foreign Affairs Office |
0513-85099252 |
Service Counter of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs of Nantong Municipal Government Affairs Service Center, No. 150 Gong Nong Nan Lu, Nantong City, Jiangsu. |
226000 |
Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office |
028-86635279 |
2nd Floor, Foreign Affairs Service Center of Chengdu, No. 2, Ren Min Xi lu, Chengdu City. |
610015 |
Name of Foreign Affairs Office |
Telephone |
Address |
Zip code |
Beijing Foreign Affairs Office |
010-85622712 |
Room 202, Building B of Jing Hua Hao Yuan, No. 8 Wai Jiao Bu Nan Jie,Chaoyang district,Beijing. |
100020 |
010-84187611 |
2nd Floor, Building A of Ge Hua Buidling, No. 1 Qing Long Hutong, Bei Xiao Jie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. | ||
Hebei Foreign Affairs Office |
0311-87807332 |
Room 103, Zone B of Provincial Government Office Building( Min Xin Guang Chang ), No. 75 Shi Fan Street, Shijiazhuang City. |
050021 |
Shanxi Foreign Affairs Office |
0351-4083617 |
3nd Floor of Service Hall, Shanxi International Building, No. 388 Ying Ze Da Jie,Taiyuan City, Shanxi. |
030001 |
Tibet Foreign Affairs Office |
0891-6328433 /6335171 |
No. 11 Lin Kuo Bei Road, Lasha City,Tibet. |
850000 |
Gansu Foreign Affairs Office |
0931-8720709 |
No. 805 Nan Chang Street, Lanzhou City. |
730030 |
Qinghai Foreign Affairs Office |
0971-8249837 /8244069 |
No.14 Jie Fang Street, Xining City,Qinghai. |
810000 |
Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office |
0951-5044617 |
No. 106 Feng Huang Bei Jie, Yinchuan City, Ningxia. |
750001 |
Shenyang Foreign Affairs Office |
024-22741318 |
Room 3001, No. 49 Bei Ling Da Jie, Huanggu District, Shenyang City. |
110042 |
Dalian Foreign Affairs Office |
0411-83881279 |
Room 419, No. 1 Ren Min Guang Chang, DalianCity. |
116012 |
Wuhan Foreign Affairs Office |
027-82847467 |
Counter B29-30, 1st Floor of Wuhan Municipal Government Affairs Service Center, No. 117 Jin Qiao Da Dao, Hankou District, Wuhan City. |
430014 |
Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps |
0991-2327565 |
Room 101, East Building, No. 8 Jian She Xiang ( No.12 Jian She Street), Tian Shan District, Urumqi City. |
830002 |
Xi'an Foreign Affairs Office |
029-86787882 /86787883 |
No.109 Feng Cheng Ba Lu, Wei YangDistrict, Xi'an City. |
710007 |
Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office |
020-83370762 |
Room 503, Guang Ren Building, No.1Guang Ren Street, Yue Xiu District,Guangzhou City. |
510030 |
Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office |
0755-88120330/82105985 |
Administration Service Hall Citizen Center, Fu Zhong San Lu, Fu Tian District, Shenzhen City. |
518035 |
Hangzhou Foreign Affairs Office |
0571-85252861 |
No.318 Huan Cheng Bei Lu, Hangzhou City. |
310026 |
Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office |
0592-5142959 |
19th Floor of Xing Ye Building, No. 78 Hu Bin Bei Lu, Xiamen. |
361000 |
Nanjing Foreign Affairs Office |
025-83378653 |
Building 31,No.41 Beijing Dong Lu, Nanjing City |
210008 |
Quanzhou Foreign Affairs Office |
0595-22110192/22110157 |
2th Floor, Building A of Dong Hai Citizen Center, Feng Ze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian. |
362000 |
Qinhuangdao Foreign Affairs Office |
0335-3652320 |
Room 302,100 Chao Yang Street, Haigang District,Qinhuangdao City. |
066000 |
Fuzhou Foreign Affairs Office |
0591-83353196 |
5th Floor of Building A, Xin Qiao Lian Square, No. 106 Wu Yi Bei Lu, Fuzhou City. |
350001 |
Yichang Foreign Affairs Office |
0717-6733275 |
No.37, Lv Luo Road,Xi Ling DistrictYichang City. |
443000 |
Wenzhou Foreign Affairs Office |
0577-88315299/88340060 |
Room 402, Foreign Affairs Building, No. 120 Dong Gang Street, Lu Cheng District, Wenzhou City. |
325000 |
Yangzhou Foreign Affairs Office |
0514-87883370 |
Visa Center, No. 206 Si Wang TingStreet, Yangzhou City. |
225000 |
Tianjin Foreign Affairs Office |
022-58785378 |
2nd Floor of Guang Yin Building,YouYi Bei Lu, He Xi District,Tianjin City. |
300074 |
Xinjiang Foreign Affairs Office |
0991-6176788 |
No.226,Dong Huan Road, Tianshan District,Urumqi City. |
830001 |
3. Agencies authorized by MFA for civil Consular Legalization in Beijing
Agency |
Telephone |
Address |
Zip Code |
China Travel Service Head Office |
010-65124896 |
No. 8 Dong Jiao Min Xiang, Beijing. |
100005 |
Maofa International Travel Service |
010-65889918 |
Room 6630-6632, 6th Floor of Building 6, San Feng Bei Li, Chaoyang District, Beijing. |
100020 |
Beijing Foreign Affairs Office( Beijing Wai Fu Jin Lu Consulting Service Center) |
010-85622712 |
Room 202B, Jing Hua Hao Yuan, No. 8 Wai Jiao Bu Nan Jie,Chaoyang district,Beijing. |
100020 |
010-84187611 |
2nd Floor, Building A of Ge Hua Buidling, No. 1 Qing Long Hutong, Bei Xiao Jie,Dongcheng district, Beijing. | ||
Beijing Fangyuan Notary Public Office |
010-85197689 |
3rd floor, Building 2 of BeijingINN, No. 5 Dong Shui Jing Hutong,Chao Nei Street, East District,Beijing. |
100701 |
Beijing Guoxin Notary Public Office |
010-82255185-818 |
9th Floor, Building C of ChengjianBuilding, No.18 Bei Tai Ping Zhuang Street, Haidian District, Beijing. |
100088 |
Beijing Fangzheng Notary Public Office |
010-58073633 |
1st Floor, Building T3 of XihuanSquare, No. 1 Xi Zhi Men Wai Street, Beijing |
100044 |
3. Time and Fees for legalisation
(1)Time and fees for legalisation of documents by the Department
Time |
Fees(RMB Yuan/document) | ||
Civil Affairs |
Business Affairs | ||
Regular |
4 working days |
50* |
100* |
Express |
2 working days |
50*+50 express fee |
100* + 50 express fee |
EMS fees |
25/500g |
(2)Time and fees for legalisation of documents by the Department and the foreign embassies(transfer serviced by the Department)
Working days |
Fees(RMB Yuan/document) | ||
Civil Affairs |
Business Affairs | ||
Regular |
4 working days + time |
50* + embassy fee + 60 service fee |
100* + embassy fee + 60 service fee |
Express |
2 working days+time |
50* + embassy fee + 60 |
100* + embassy fee +60 service fee+80 express fee |
EMS fees |
25/500g |
Note: The Department legalisaton fee(marked with *) are different for foreign applicants of different nationalities on the reciprocal basis.
(3) REMARKS
(i) The express fee is collected only when the applicant request the express service. Beside, some foreign embassies also provide extra charged express services of their own, in case it needed,requests should be made upon submitting applications.
(ii) The Department provides mail back service, but dose not accept incoming mail applications. For mail-back applications ,together with other required materials,applicants should fill out EMS envelops at counters and submit to the staff.
(iii) All the fees stated above need to be paid in cash while submitting applications. Pick-up forms and invoices will be given to the applicants after the payment. Applicants should keep these two documents carefully,for forms are the proofs for picking up documents, and invoices are essential for refunding the overpayment and supplement the deficiency due to the frequent changes of the embassy fee.
(4)Office Hours, Contact Phone Number, Address and Email of the Department of Consular Affairs
Office Hours: 8:30-11:00AM, Monday to Friday (except for Chinese Public Holidays).
Telephone for inquiry: 010-65889761
Fax: 010-65889905
Location: 7th floor, South Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, No.2 Chao Yang Men Nan Da Jie, Chao Yang District, Beijing.
Email address: lss8@mfa.gov.cn